Stepping Away from the Edge

Tiptoe-ing through the Tulips

In honor of Mother's Day. . .

I thought I'd share a Mom-Story today.

My Mom and Dad live in Holland, Michigan . . . a city on the shore of Lake Michigan . . . home to Hope College (where Brian goes to school) . . . and host of the annual Tulip Time Festival.

When my kids were little, I used to dress them up in their traditional Dutch costumes (just for the record:  we are NOT Dutch) and stick them in the tulips for annual photos.  (Tourists and bus tour folks used to line up behind me, snapping shots of my "authentic little Dutch kids."  Always cracked me up!)

(Little Erin and Little Brian, circa 1994.)

After my Mom retired, she decided she might want to volunteer at Tulip Time.  So I sewed another authentic Dutch costume (seriosuly . . . there are "authentic Dutch costume patterns" and "authentic Dutch costume fabrics" to choose from), and my Mom bought herself a pair of authentic Dutch wooden shoes.

And now, each year during Tulip Time, you can find her . . . working with her pals . . . in the Tulip Time Information Booth in downtown Holland!

So, if you're ever visiting Holland to see the tulips . . . and you want directions . . . or a map . . . or advice on where to grab a bite . . . or a pint . . . stop by and say HI to my Mom!

She'll be there -- tiptoeing through the tulips in her wooden shoes!

Finally!

SPRING has finally arrived here in my corner of the universe.

And that means . . . it's All Hands on Deck getting the garden back into shape!

Tom does most of the heavy lifting -- or, in this case, heavy pulling of the neighbor's English Ivy off the fence.  (If not for Tom's annual battle, the neighbor's English Ivy would be covering our house by now.  It's the kudzu of the neighborhood.)

Brian (home for a week before starting his summer research position) took on the icky job of cleaning up my pond.  (More on why it was particularly icky this year another day.)  But, trust me, Really Icky.

Jenny was everywhere, enjoying freshly-turned nightcrawlers and fresh soil.  She also ended up having a bath because she couldn't quite resist the lure of the Icky Pond Detritus -- rolling in it whenever we weren't watching.

And me?  I just loved every minute!

It's Raining Cats and . . . Chickens!

Spring is trying her best to (finally) take hold here in Southwest Michigan.  But Spring is fickle.  Seemingly here one day . . . then snow the next!

We've been getting a lot of rain.

But I don't mind!  It gives me a chance to stomp about in my new, birthday rain boots . . . a gift from my Mom and Dad.

They lighten up the dreariest of wet and muddy days.

Aren't they awesome?

A Barrel of Laughs

I love to laugh, and I think I have a pretty good sense of humor.  In fact, here in our family, we (ahem) joke that "humor is our family value."  We laugh about the good things.  We make light of heavy situations.  We laugh about things that happen to us -- even when the things aren't funny.   We laugh at ourselves.  We laugh with each other.

Erin is a natural storyteller.

Brian is a master of sound effects and impressions.

Tom remembers every joke he's ever heard.  (Even really, really, really long ones.)

Me?  I can't remember a punch line to save my soul!

So.  I can't really take part in this week's Ten on Tuesday topic . . . 10 Favorite Jokes.  It's not that I don't like jokes.  (I do.)  It's just that I can't remember them once I've heard them!

So, instead of jokes . . . I'll give you three (sort of) funny things:

First, a photo.  (Another woodland creature in my garden.)

Second, a story.

When Brian was in first grade, Tom and I went in for a Parent-Teacher Conference.  Brian's first grade teacher was very young - bright and energetic, but very . . . serious.  Not much in the way of a sense of humor.  And Brian?  He was a rather Dennis-the-Menace kind of first grader . . . and always looking for a laugh.  This teacher (Miss S) looked at us acoss the table, very concerned, and explained that Brian often shared off-color jokes with the class. 

Uh oh, we thought. 
Cat's out of the bag, we thought.

Tom, putting on his Concerned Parent face, asked, "Can you give us an example?"

Miss S, a bit sheepish and with a blush, relayed that he had told this joke to the class recently:
Q:  What did the fish say when he hit a cement wall?
A:  Dam!

It was all Tom and I could do to keep from bursting out laughing.  (In fact, we may have.)  After a brief pause -- while Miss S collected herself and Tom and I glanced at each other -- Tom looked at Miss S and, in all seriousness asked her. . . "And how was his delivery?"

Third, the ONLY joke I can ever remember.

Q:  What did the grape say when the elephant sat on it?
A:  Nothing.  He just let out a little wiiiiiine!

How about YOU?  Know any good jokes?

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Join the fun!  Sign up for Ten on Tuesday here.

 

 

A Little Break

A few days ago, a somewhat pathetic soul landed on my doorstep.

Bronchitis.

Laryngitis.

Exhaustion.

And badly in need of a beer.

And now, almost a week later, look at him!

Rested and ready to hit the last 6 weeks.

Junior year is just flying by.

Freedom . . . at Last

A song for today . . .

 

Birthdays come.

 

First birthday

 

And birthdays go.

 

Turning 2 . . . with a broken arm

 

Cake.  Candles.

 

Age 5

 

Parties.

 

8th birthday - party at the roller rink

 

Make a wish!

 

Age 14

 

But. . . y'know. . . some birthdays are just BIGGER than others.

 

Turning 16 . . . behind the wheel

 

Like this one.

Freedom.  At 21.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRIAN!

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And . . . speaking of birthdays . . . be sure to wish Miss Patty a happy one herself!

Homecoming

Garden Buddha is Up To His Eyeballs . . .

in fresh, new snow.

I woke up to a beautiful winter wonderland.

Won't Tom be surprised . . . when he steps off the plane later today . . . to this . . .

after all the heat and sun and humidity of Mumbai!

The Welcoming Committe is ready!

Happy weekend.

 

Might Look a Little Strange

I suppose that coming home to find this note on the counter might seem a little surprising. . .

And I suppose some might find it a bit off-putting to open the refrigerator and find this inside. . .

But here, it's de rigueur.

Oh, it might look a little strange, sure.  But it's just a sure sign that SOMEbody is about to leave for another stint in Mumbai.

Happy Weekend!

Hip to be Square

Soundtrack. .  .

 

So.  What's a mom to do. . .

when her son likes a hat so much . . .

that he asks for another?

Why.  You knit it up.  Post-haste, of course!

It's hip to be square. . .

and, hey!  Have a great semester, Bud.

(Ravelry details here.)

The 12 (Blog) Days of Christmas: On the Tenth Day

On the Tenth (blog) Day of Christmas  . . . I give you memories!

So many Christmases. . .

So many presents . . .

So many memories through the years.

On Christmas Eve, especially it seems, I remember all my Christmases past.

I remember the magic. . .

and the fun.

I think about how things change . . .

and how they don't. 

May happy memories of Christmases past surround YOU today!